Your championships had been sandwiched between two Michael Jordan three-peats. Do you assume these Rockets groups have gotten their correct due for what they achieved? Kenny Smith: You may’t erase historical past. I don’t know in case you get correct due, however you’ll be able to’t erase historical past. Everybody all the time says, “Effectively, Michael was out.” No, he wasn’t — he was sporting No. 45 (in 1995). And everyone seems to be saying, “Oh, he was rusty.” Nobody was saying he was rusty when he had 55 factors at Madison Sq. Backyard that very same 12 months. He had 55 factors towards the Knicks, who had been arguably the most effective defensive staff in basketball at the moment. No, he was Michael Jordan. (The Bulls) simply weren’t pretty much as good a basketball staff. The staff they misplaced to, the Orlando Magic, we swept. I by no means take a look at it as getting respect. You may’t erase historical past. And we’re right here to remain. He did play that 12 months, so there was just one 12 months he wasn’t there. He did play (in the course of the second title run). He was there, and we simply didn’t get a chance to satisfy them. -via Houston Chronicle / August 14, 2024
